This is actually a 555ft tall obelisk, Egyptian-inspired tribute to America’s first President, George Washington. Robert Mills won a design competition held by the Washington National Memorial Society, and work began soon after, only to be stopped by the Civil War. This is why, after 152ft, the tone of the marble changes subtly, as this was where the project had reached before war intervened. It weighs just under 91 tons, and contains an elevator and an 897-step staircase, with an observation deck at 500ft. The top is a 9inch tall aluminium pyramid with lightning rods to deter lightning bolts.

Written by  George Monkhouse.

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